'We had to fight': Najd Stud stronger than ever with 1.5 million gns spent at Tattersalls HIT Sale

Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls

Najd Stud was back bidding stronger than ever on day two of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, with Tuesday's 1.51 million gns (AU$2.99 million) spend headed by the top two lots on the day – The Lost King (Kingman) at 750,000 gns (AU$1.49 million) and the 450,000 gns (AU$892,000) Victoire Magique (Victor Ludorum).

Bought by bloodstock agent Nico Archdale on behalf of the Saudi Arabian-based owners, The Lost King and Victoire Magique will be aimed at the Saudi Cup meeting in February. They are two of four horses purchased by Najd Stud so far this week.

“With The Lost King and Victoire Magique, we are looking for horses to target the Saudi Cup meeting and both horses fitted that bill,” Archdale said.

“One could go for the Red Sea Turf and the other for the Neom Turf Cup. We're very excited to be able to get both of them.”

He added, “We did our shortlist a few weeks ago, then the wildcards came in, so you are constantly updating. The list got shorter and shorter and then it was a very strong market for the ones we wanted. We really had to fight and luckily we got some nice ones.

“The Lost King's form speaks for itself – he's a highly-rated and consistent horse who has been constantly running at the top level.”

The Lost King has been a superb performer for Andrew Balding and King Power Racing. A winner of five starts, he has amassed over £250,000 in prize-money and boasts a rating of 110.

Meanwhile, Victoire Magique is yet another success story for Amy Murphy, a trainer enjoying a year to remember thanks to the exploits of Tokaido, Jabracadabra and more. The Victor Ludorum colt landed a Group 3 at ParisLongchamp and was last seen running a fine fifth behind stablemate Jabracadabra in a Group 2 at that track last time. He was sourced by the trainer for just 40,000 gns (AU$79,000) at Book 3 here in 2024.

“I bought him on spec, I didn't have anybody for him when I bought him,” Murphy recalled. “I just loved him. He has given his owners Solario Racing some great days out. The race that I suspect they bought him for is the Red Sea Turf in February. It is the race we were thinking of if he didn't sell today.”

She added, “I hope he goes on to be very lucky for his connections. He's obviously been a star for us this year, being a Listed and a Group 3 winner. I hope he goes on and thrives.

“Solario is an English-based syndicate that has always been with me, and then when I moved to France, they supported us. It is great, you obviously always want to see a profit like that. You know, that's life-changing money for that syndicate and we've already bought them a couple of yearlings in anticipation of this!”

Although Monday's opening session was positive overall, the average on Tuesday took a trimming by 13% to 42,865 gns (AU$84,971). The median was also down by 9% to 20,000gns (AU$39,650) while the clearance rate dropped by 1% to 87%. The turnover dropped by 939,300 gns (AU$1.86 million) to 11,230,700 gns (AU$24.4 million).

Donohoe bags improving Yordan for 420k

BBA Ireland bloodstock agent Michael Donohoe out-battled Blandford's Stuart Boman on the 420,000gns (AU$833,000) Yordan (Starman), who was the most expensive horse sold outside of the wildcard catalogue on Tuesday.

The progressive sprinter, who has won his last four starts and achieved a rating of 96 for his most recent success over 6f at Southwell, was purchased on behalf of Saudi Arabian clients and will continue his career in that jurisdiction. And yes, Donohoe did expect to pay that much!

“I had an idea he'd make what he did when all of the sharks came in for him,” Donohoe joked. “I am thrilled to get him because he is an absolute weapon. He was one we targeted coming into the sale. He is extremely progressive and it is rare for Timeform to give a horse a rating of 105p after his third or fourth start. Physically, he is a magnificent, big, strong horse, and he looks very much like a dirt horse.”

He added, “This horse has a lot of speed but, given his pedigree, he should stay 7f and maybe even a mile in time. The plan is for him to go to the Middle East and he has been bought for an existing client. He should take well to the dirt in Saudi. I think the dirt surface there is the best in the world.”

Boman strikes back

Boman may have had to play second fiddle to Donohoe on Yordan but he managed to land a knockout blow with Bamako Beach (Sands Of Mali) at 360,000gns (AU$714,000). One of the highest-rated horses to go through the ring on Tuesday, Bamako Beach was trained by Michael O'Callaghan to win three races, including a Listed contest over 6f at Naas last time.

Boman said, “He's an extraordinarily talented horse. He's had his wayward issues along the way, but has been gelded and they dropped him back to sprinting last time and he really showed the level of ability that he's got. He's got a huge engine.”

The agent added, “He's a high-class horse, a really talented horse. He'll go to Dubai for the Carnival, hopefully he is a horse who will show up on a Super Saturday.”

Boman was also on the mark with 260,000 gns (AU$515,000) purchase Gostam (Saxon Warrior) on behalf of trainer Joseph O'Brien. The highly-rated German-bred colt has won four of his seven starts and was last seen running down the field in a Group 2 at Kentucky Downs.

He said, “He was champion 2-year-old in Germany last year and was a leading German Derby hopeful. He ran a great race in the French Derby. Physically, he's lovely – a really high-class horse. I'm actually slightly surprised that we were able to buy him for what we did.”

Eight horses heading down under

Australian and New Zealand buyers were active again throughout the second day of the sale, securing eight horses to head south to the stables of trainers like Archibald Racing and Anthony and Sam Freedman.

Paul Moroney, Catheryne Bruggeman, and Armando Duarte signed the docket for the most expensive of the cohort, paying 220,000 gns (AU$437,000) for dual winner High Degree (Too Darn Hot), from the damline of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling. The gelded son of Too Darn Hot was offered by William Haggas's Somerville Lodge.

Archibald Racing combined with Blandford Bloodstock to purchase Hand Of God (Churchill), a four-time winner who was last seen in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron, for 200,000 gns (AU$398,000). The Northern Hemisphere 5-year-old is from another branch of High Degree's family, being closely related to triple Oaks champion Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells).

Also in the mix were Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who purchased juvenile Listed winner Andab (Saxon Warrior) with McKeever Bloodstock for 180,000 gns (AU$358,000). From the family of Auguste Rodin, the gelding is a full brother to G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road.

Anthony and Sam Freedman bought River Card (Hello Youmzain) for 150,000 gns (AU$298,000) in partnership with Hurworth Bloodstock. The grandson of blue hen Zeiting (Zieten) has won twice in just five starts.

Ciaron Maher Racing were also active, securing Mr Vettori (Lope De Vega) for 130,000 gns (AU$258,000) in conjunction with JS Bloodstock. Fourth at Listed level nine days before the sale, the Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old is a grandson of treble Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock) and was bred by Newtown Anner Stud’s Maurice Regan, part owner in last week's Listed Geelong Classic winner Murshidi (Maurice).

Shaune Ritchie Racing and Ed Stapleton Bloodstock will take home the fittingly named New Zealand (Frankel), a stakes-performed colt offered by Coolmore who they outlaid 90,000 gns (AU$179,000) for.

Darby Racing and De Burgh Equine paid 55,000 gns (AU$109,000) for Straight Up, a winning Wootton Bassett colt closely related to champion filly Tapestry (Galileo) and sire Real Steel, while Aaron Purcell signed for the City Light gelding Trinquette for 50,000 gns (AU$99,000) on behalf of Ponderosa Stables.

Legendary de Kock gets in on the action

Legendary trainer Mike de Kock got in on the action through South African agent Justin Vermaak when going to 220,000 gns (AU$ 436,000) on the 97-rated Noble Horizon (Kingman) from the stable of Oli Rix.

“He is going to Dubai and to trainer Michael de Kock – Michael and his son Matthew de Kock have started a stable there this year,” Vermaak explained.

“We've bought a few horses around the world, including from South America, and we're here to add some turf handicappers to the mix. He'll be shipped out there as soon as possible.

"I've been tasked by Mike and the clients to come and find some horses. And I think this horse will suit racing in Dubai – he likes firm ground, which is great. He's a nice, strong, handy-running horse, who can produce a nice turn of foot off of a strong pace, which is great. He's got so much class.”

Buy of the day

John O'Connor might well have sourced a black-type winner in waiting for Ballylinch Stud for just 70,000gns (AU$138,760) as Inkberrow (Kodi Bear) boasts the profile of a filly that is really on the up. She has improved with each of her three starts for Simon and Ed Crisford and her 13-length romp at Catterick over 6f last time was ultra-impressive.

There are a range of Listed races that she could be aimed at as an older sprinting filly and she could well be up to winning one. Already rated 90, if she can secure black-type, she could be a nice addition to the broodmare band.